Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he had met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, saying immigration officials said they were wrongly deported, Van Hollen confirmed to CBS News.
Democratic senator shared a photo of a restaurant with Abrego Garcia.
“I said the main goal of this trip was to meet Kilma,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I had a chance tonight. I called his wife, Jennifer, to convey his love message. I look forward to providing a full update upon returning.”
El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele also released photos of the meeting but suggested that Abrego Garcia would continue to be imprisoned by his administration, which is paying the United States to hold the deported: “Since he has received a healthy and healthy life, he is honored to remain in custody in El Salvador.”
Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, said in a statement after the meeting that her prayers had been answered. ”
“We still have a lot of problems, hope and fear. I will continue to fight for Kilma's return home,” Vasquez wrote.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai called Van Hollen’s visit “really disgusting”, and Chris van Hollen firmly established the Democrats, with the welfare of illegal alien MS-13 terrorists. “Abrego Garcia's lawyer strongly denied any connection to MS-13.
The surprise meeting with Van Hollen since last month was Abrego Garcia's first appearance when he expelled El Salvador's infamous terrorism imprisonment center, drew national attention and sparked a legal standoff with the Trump administration.
government admit Abrego Garcia was sent to El Salvador in court documents Hundreds Immigration in El Salvador and Venezuelan – due to “administrative error”. U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis orders the government to “promote” Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S., Supreme Court Support this orderBut he has been staying in El Salvador since then, and Sinis implies that the government has not complied with her orders and Requires regular updates About his identity.
The Trump administration backed down, believing it was based on El Salvador’s decision to return to Abrego Garcia – An argument The appeals court called it “shocking.” The government also claimed that Abrego Garcia had ties to the El Salvador gang MS-13 and cited a confidential informant, although his lawyer denied the charges and pointed out that Abrego Garcia has not been charged or convicted.
Abrego Garcia, 29, was born in El Salvador, but entered the United States illegally at the age of 16 in 2011. He was arrested outside a warehouse in a Maryland home in 2019, but a judge banned the government from deporting him to El Salvador, warning him that he could persecute in his home country. A few years later, in March this year, he was detained by immigration agents from Maryland and taken to the El Salvador Detention Center, known as Cecot.
Abrego Garcia's case is at the heart of urgent controversy at the Trump administration, including the defendants of MS-13 and Gang Tren de Aragua, Venezuela, using the Alien Enemy Act of 1798 (Cecot) Allow the President Deport citizens of enemy countries during “invasion or predatory invasion”. Gambit was challenged in court, and opponents condemned the conditions in Cecot, debate The government denies immigration has the right to due process. One “60 minutes” Report discovery Most of the 238 Venezuelans sent to Cecot last month have no obvious criminal records. However, the Trump administration defended its use of the law, believing that it is violating gang violence.
Van Hollen meets Abrego Garcia The senator was turned away Thursday at a military checkpoint. Near Cecot. He said he was about three kilometers away from the infamous man Super Max Prison, When he was stopped by soldiers, he said he was ordered to stop him from going to prison.
Van Hollen headed to El Salvador on Wednesday to check The well-being of Abrego Garcia. He provides the latest news about the journey.
“My overall purpose is to send a signal that we won't stop fighting for his return,” Van Hollen said before the flight.
